Green Building

Surprise! Michigan is ranked in the top 13 states for energy-efficient buildings. The list of organizations, foundations and educational institutions promoting a greener Mitten State seems to grow by the day and Washtenaw County is a vital part of that equation. From LEED buildings to the solar panel intiatives on Ann Arbor's Farmer's Market and Ypsilanti's city hall to Greenhills School's rooftop wind turbine, to A3C's state-of-the-art 'green' renovation in the heart of downtown, the Ann Arbor area is tightening its green belt and looking healthier for it.

Features

As the effects of climate change become more and more pronounced, communities are looking to develop more sustainable practices and policies. Concentrate chats with SolarYpsi's Dave Strenski about the current state of local solar energy initiatives.

Margie Teall stepped down from Ann Arbor's City Council in November, after serving for twelve years. During her time in office she saw a lot of changes to the city, listened to a lot of competing points of view, and learned a thing or two about public service. She has some observations… and concerns.

Over the last decade Matt Grocoff has turned his Old West Side home into a net zero energy residence, hoping to certify it as the second such home in the United States. And while that bar might be set a bit high for the average Ann Arborite, he offers some important thoughts about what we can do in our own community to live more sustainably.

When Ann Arbor's most prolific Modern architect, Robert C. Metcalf, completed his first commission, it was on the forefront of energy efficient design. Now, sixty years later, our standards have evolved and the house is being lovingly revived in a way that improves the efficiency without compromising the design.

Featured Videos

Everything you ever wanted to know about solar energy but were afraid to ask. Last month Concentrate's Speaker Event featured Dave Strenski and Andrew Brix talking up the policies, virtues, and challenges of going solar in Michigan. If you missed it, well, we've got the video right here. Ah, the marvels of technology.

Retrofitting an 80 year-old downtown building with cutting edge green technologies is no easy task. But when your architecture firm is renown for its sustainable designs it makes sense to walk the talk. Metromode takes a tour of A3C's (Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative) ambitious eco-sensitive renovation.

Green Building
Development News

Peter Woolf doesn't consider himself a developer, but everything else about his background and interests has led him to become just that. The former University of Michigan chemical engineering faculty member, human health-based software ...